New Issue: Summer (Falkland Islands)

I have recently started a thematic collection of penguins.

If you're into penguins then you may like stamps from places like the Falkland islands, Chile and the Antarctic Territories as they often create issues about penguins. After all, they have quite a lot of them!

Recently I ordered a lot of stamps from the Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau. Some of these were for my collection of penguins but not all. One of the sets I bought was this one, which is their most recent issue.

Helpfully, I was also sent a leaflet about the stamps.

The stamps are about summer and they focus on wildlife. They were designed by Louise Clarke, who is a local artist, and they show Falkland Lavender, Queen of the Falklands Fritillary Butterfly, King Penguin and Elephant Seal.

Design Quality: Louise's life-like coloured pencil drawings work well against white background and the picture blends in to the plain background. The detail in the illustrations is fantastic. The drawings show multiple types of animal and plant life and capture the beauty of these different species. The font used is good, although perhaps the lettering should have been a different colour to stand out more? 8/10

Theme and Subject Choice: All these things are not just about summer but wildlife in the Falklands. This is the first of a series of four "Seasons", which is a great theme in itself and means there will be more sets also exploring wildlife in the Falklands at different times of year. 7/10 Historical and Cultural Relevance: Falkland Islands wildlife is very culturally relevant because some species, like the penguins, are so iconic they are practically a symbol of the island. There is a reason why so many Falklands Islands stamps have penguins on them! 8/10 Innovation and Creativity: The artwork is the strongest point of the design. I like the creative illustrations and good use of the space, but if I'm being honest these are not hugely innovative. 6/10 Collectability: Falkland Islands, wildlife and the seasons are a combination that will appeal to many collectors. 8/10 Personal Appeal: Impressive illustrations of captivating wildlife... what is not to like? 9/10 Overall Score: 46/60